Update: Peru

Dozens of letters written by Columban missionaries and friends from the United States and around the world flowed into the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach (CCAO) over the last week. The letters were a response to our action alert prompted by the violence in Bagua, Peru, over decrees enacted by the Peruvian government to comply with the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

The CCAO office arranged a meeting with Minister Manuel Talavera, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on June 17. We delivered the letters and during our one hour meeting expressed our concern for the indigenous people of Peru. We specifically urged the Peruvian government to carefully consider the rights and needs of the indigenous people in future trade agreements and decrees through meaningful consultation processes with civil society.

After many months of protesting and violence leading to deaths, the decrees were finally repealed June 18, 2009. The Minister expressed the belief that dialogue would increase in the coming months between the government, NGOs, and the indigenous people as they develop new trade decrees. We will continue to carefully monitor this process and to engage the Peruvian government through the Embassy to respect the rights of the indigenous people and the common good.